PLANS FOR A NEW RESIDENTIAL WING COMPLETE WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT ARE BEING DRAWN UP FOR THE MEATH EPILEPSY TRUST IN GODALMING.

THE TRUST HAS LAUNCHED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN WHICH THEY HOPE WILL SOON SEE THEM ON THEIR WAY TO CREATING A NEW ‘HIGH NEEDS FACILITY’ TO ALLOW PEOPLE LIVING WITH COMPLEX EPILEPSY AND OTHER DISABILITIES TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

FOLLOWING ON FROM THREE SEPARATE BUILDING PHASES WHICH CREATED NEW UNITS WITH ROOM FOR 27 RESIDENTS, PHASE FOUR WILL USE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO ALLOW 12 PEOPLE WITH SEVERE CONDITIONS TO BE IN CONTROL OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

THIS WILL INCLUDE DOORS, WINDOWS AND CURTAINS WHICH OPEN OR CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY EITHER AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON OR USING MOTION SENSORS. MANY OF THE MORE RECENT WINGS INCLUDE SOME OF THESE SYSTEMS, BUT STAFF AT THE MEATH HOPE TO USE MUCH MORE OF THE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY.

A SEIZURE MONITORING SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE IN EACH ROOM, GIVING IMMEDIATE NOTICE TO STAFF IN THE MAIN HOUSE.

THE BUILD IS HOPED TO GO AHEAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND A LAUNCH EVENING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 TO REVEAL THE PLANS IN MORE DETAIL TO RESIDENTS, THEIR RELATIVES, PATRONS AND FRIENDS OF THE MEATH.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEATH SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN A BIG DECISION TO BEGIN SUCH A BIG PROJECT WHILE TIMES WERE STILL TOUGH, BUT THAT IT WAS A PROJECT THAT HAD BEEN LONG COMING AND NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD.

LORD-LIEUTENANT OF SURREY, SARAH GOAD, WHO AGREED TO SERVE AS PATRON OF THE HOME FROM HOME APPEAL, SAID THAT DESPITE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THE “GOOD WORK MUST GO ON”.

“WE MUST PRESS AHEAD WITH UPDATING THE MEATH’S ACCOMMODATION AND THE INSTALLATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES,” SHE SAID.

THE EVENT WILL BE RUN BY CHAIRMAN OF THE APPEAL, RICHARD LOCKWOOD, A LOCAL MAN WHO HAS WORKED WITH HOSPICES IN LONDON AND HAMPSHIRE WHILE HAVING SUPPORTED THE MEATH FOR MANY YEARS.

HE SAID: “THE MEATH IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CHARITY THAT OFFERS PEOPLE WITH SEVERE EPILEPSY THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENABLE THEM TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL.

“YOU ONLY HAVE TO VISIT TO APPRECIATE THE WARMTH AND COMPASSION EMANATING THROUGHOUT, TO WITNESS THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND TO SEE THE SMILES.

“ESTABLISHING THIS NEW FACILITY WILL ENABLE THE MEATH TO GO THAT EXTRA MILE FOR SOME OF OUR SOCIETY’S MOST VULNERABLE.”

THE APPEAL WILL AIM TO RAISE £2.3 MILLION, ENOUGH FOR ALL THE GROUNDWORK, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND CONNECTED SERVICES, THROUGH A SERIES OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THE LAUNCH EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT FUNDRAISING MANAGER ANN SPENCER ON 01483 415095.